Improvement in pocket-book protectors



NTTED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

ALONZO DRUMMOND, OF NEWARK, NEW'JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN POCKET-BOOK PROTECTORS.

Spcciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,838, dated June 26,1866..

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALONZO DRUMMOND, of the city of Newark, county ofEssex, and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful apparatusfor the protection. of pocketbooks and other such articles from loss byaccident or otherwise from the pocket or other depository about theperson; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawingsand the letters of reference thereon, in which drawings-f Figure lrepresents the apparatus, or so much of it as is to be attachedpermanently to one `of the sides or faces, of the pocketbook; Fig. 2, somuch of the same as is to be attached to the pocket 5 Fig. 3, theinterior of Fig. 1 5 Fig. 4, a section through the line x x of Fig. land y y of Fig. 3 5 Fig. 5, across- Section through z z, Fig. 2.

In all these drawings like letters refer to like parts.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

A A is a plate of iron, steel, or other metal, that may or may not beplated, to be attached to one side orface of the pocket-book. This platemay be flat or concave. To this face is attached one or more springs,(marked B B,) riveted or otherwise iirmly attached at their lower ends,I) 1), to the plate A A, the upper end being free, but by its ownelasticity pressing downward toward the face of the plate. This springwill be more fully described hereinafter. t

C (in dotted lines in Fig. l and in black ones in Fig. 3) is a slidingbar on the inner face of the plate A A, carrying on its extremities thepieces c c', which project through the plate A,

and so operate, through the movement of the lever D, as to elevate thefree end of the springs B when necessary. This lever D is pivoted at oneend, d, the other end being free, and is connected with the piece C by apivot, d', working in a slot` on the said piece C.' At the other end ofthis lever there is afxed a pin with an enlarged head, d, also passingthrough the plate A and an enlargement of the slot e in the hinge E, asseen in Figs. l and 4.

F is a pointed spur fixed on a movable joint, f, to a slidingpiece, f,moving in aslot in plate A. These parts are shown in connection in Fig.4, with the spur elevated, as it will be when set and kept so by the dogG. Between F and f is introduced a small piece of indiarubber or otherelastic device, to insure that the spur F shall be pressed back and lieclose to the plate A when the dog Gis thrown back and the sliding piecef withdrawn tothe lower end of the slot in which it moves.

In Fig. l, gis the pin upon which the dog turns, and g is a knob to thepin which moves the slide f.

4 In Fig. 2, His piece of leather, canvas, or like material, to be sewedor otherwise attached to the pocket on that portion thereof next thebody. I is a plate attached to H, and having one or more studs orbuttons, K K. (Seen also in section in Fig. 5.)

In Fig. 4 the spring B, as shown in section, is seen to be elevated fromthe surface of the plate A by means of the pieces c c', and showing aninclined plane terminating in a catch on its under surface. L is anopening in the piece of leather H, to allow the finger to reach andoperate' the knob g.

In small pocket-books, such as are carried in the pockets of the vest orpants or ladies dresses, it is not necessary to have the parts connectedwith the operation of the spur F. They may therefore be dispensed within such cases. The slot L in H is not absolutely necessary, as the knobg may be reached by the linger-point, or, where a belt is used forcarrying the pocket-book around thebody, the plate I may be attached to`this belt, thus leaving this knob entirely uncovered.

Mode of using.: The sheet of leather, canvas, or other appropriatematerial H is attached to the plate I, as shown in Fig. 2, or, where thepocket-book is to be belted around the body, the plate I can be fastenedsecurely to this belt when H is used. Then the next step is to sew orotherwise securel it in theinterior of the pocket on that side next thebody, and with the face (shown in Fig. 2) outward or looking toward thecavity of the pocket. This part then for the time being becomes a firmfixture to the body. Then, if it be desir able to bring the spur F intooperation, the pocketbook is laid open, showing, if not covered by aninterior lining, an organization of parts as seen in Fig. 3. In thisgure, however, the lever D slopes downward a little, so as to allow thesiidef to be moved upward to receive the notched end of G under it, toretain its position and insure the throwing out of the spur at theproper time. lt the spur be not used, then parts G, j', and f are leftas represented in this Fig. 3. The pocketbook is then closed, the hingeE turned over, as seen in Fig. l, the knob d drawn down until it willpass through. the enlargement in the slot c, and then pushed up againinto the narrow part. This latter movement carries with it thepieces cc', attached to the piece @,from under the upper end of the spring orsprings B B, allowing them to come down in contact with the face of theplate A. This movement of the knob d, carrying with it the lever D,

.also relieves the spur, when it is to be used,

from pressure, and allows it to fall down upon the plate A.

Now, to secure the book in the pocket, the face shown in Fig. 1 isapplied to the face in Fig. 2, so that the buttons or studs will passinto the notch made by the curvature of the springs B B, and then thebook is pushed forward or downward, or whatever may be the requireddirection, until the buttons pass over the inclined planes on the underside of the springs B B, and are caught by `t'he notch at their endscoming down behind them. In this condition the book is firmly attachedto the pocket, and can only be removed by violence or the followingfurther manipulation, viz: The end of the finger is insinuated, when thesheet H is used, between that sheet and the pocket-book until it comesin contact with the knob d. This is then pushed down to the largerextremity of the slot c, and this motion brin gin g down the lever D, itcarries the pieces c c' under and elevates the end of the springs B B.Then, by pushing the book downward or forward, (this is in the directionfrom the bottom toward the top, as shown in the drawings,) and at thesame time pressing it with some force, the buttons or studs K K passunder the inclined plane; .but when at that place they should bestopped, and the lever D be again drawn up, so as to allow the spur F,which had been somewhat elevated, to fall again in contact with theplate A; then the book is withdrawn entirely, and thus disengaged fromitsV attachment.

The safety of this arrangement, especially against thieves andpickpockets, consists in not oni)7 the necessity of understanding themode of detaching the book, but also in the necessity of pressing itVith considerable force against the side or body of the wearer, and ifthe spur is brought into rwiisiton the most expert member of thisfraternity could not succeed in accomplishing his purpose, even on asleepin g person, without alarming and awakening him, for any attempt toremove the book with the spur set would inevitably pierce the'tlesh.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I 'claim therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. The combination ofthe springB orsprings B B with the lever D andpiece C, carrying c c', in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

2. The plate I, with its buttons or studs K,

